Name ___________________________________________
Ancient Hominids Stations Activity.2014
Date _________________
Activity: Ancient Hominids Stations Activity
Goal: To develop an understanding of the scientific study of human origins,
paleoanthropology.
Background Information: The word hominid refers to all members of the family of
humans, Hominidae. The human family has many ancient members – all of whom are
extinct. Our species, Homo sapiens is the only group of hominids to survive. The
names of these ancient hominids are hard to say but not difficult to remember because
they are so interesting! Our study will include Australopithecus aferensis, Pan
troglodytes, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens
sapiens.
The field of science, which studies the human fossil record is known as
paleoanthropology. It is the intersection of the disciplines of paleontology (the study of
ancient life forms) and anthropology (the study of humans).
Materials: a hominid skull collection, replicas of hominid tools, pictures of prehistoric
cave art, a variety of reference books and periodicals about early hominids, Video: On
the Rocks (VT 709.01 ON); videoclips about prehistoric cave art (unitedstreaming),
Internet access; charcoal pencils, colored sticks, brown paper for cave art, a variety of
articles, copies of Odyssey Magazine, October 2009 (Cast of Humans)
Directions: Rotate through the experience stations listed below. Follow the directions
for each station.
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Station 1. Reference Books
Peruse the collection of books available on the subject of ancient hominids. Look for
pictures, captions, diagrams, and text that seem interesting to you.
Title of Book: _________________________________________
1. Write two facts you learned about ancient hominids that you did not know before
this activity.
a.
b.
2. Write one question that you still have about ancient hominids.
Station 2. Becoming Human: The Documentary (Computers)
Go to http://www.becominghuman.org/ Scroll down the page and click on Becoming
Human: The Documentary. Click on Begin the Program. At the bottom of the
documentary screen, choose Hominid Profiles. Select two hominid profiles and
complete the following table.
Name of Hominid
Age
Diet
Range
Environment
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Station 3. Prehistoric Cave Art (The video On the Rocks may be available in addition
to illustrations of cave art). Look closely at the illustrations of cave art provided. Take the
tour through the Lascaux caves and view the art produced by your early ancestors.
Lascaux Cave Tour 1 http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/fr/00.xml
Lascaux Cave Tour 2 http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/lascaux/
a. Describe what the cave art tells you about the people who produced the images.
b. Use the paper provided at your station to create your cave art. Add your name
lightly in pencil on the back of your paper. Use the charcoal pencils and chalks
provided.
Station 4. Early Craftmanship (Ancient Hominid Tools)
Examine the tool artifacts and look through the handouts provided at this station. Watch
the documentary on how early humans crafted tools.
http://www.becominghuman.org/node/early-craftsmanship
a. Draw one of the tools.
b. Describe how the tool might have been
made and used by an ancient hominid.
c. How was the development of tools
evidence of increased cognition
(intelligence;reasoning) in early
humans?
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Station 5. Ancient Hominids in the News
A variety of articles about ancient hominids have been provided for you. Select one
article that interests you and is at you reading level.
If you do not have access to the articles in class, you may use the following articles from
the Internet.
Fossils Confirm Three Early Humans Roamed Africa
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22151-fossils-confirm-three-early-humansroamed-africa.html
Ancient DNA From Early Human Creates New Mystery
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/06/science/la-sci-sn-ancient-human-dna-20131206
a. Record the name of the article.
Title of Article:
b. Write a one paragraph summary about what you read. Remember that a
paragraph has an opening and closing sentence and three supporting sentences.
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Station 6. Hominoid Skull Collection
Examine four skull replicas at this station. Use the packets provided to help you identify
some of the skull features. Be sure to use the proper names for the skull parts. Describe
at least 2 unique or prominent features that make each skull different from the others.
Be sure to record the name of the hominoid that the skull belongs to. Use the handout
provided to help you identify the features you observe.
Skull #1: ________________________________________
Special Features:
1.
2.
Skull #2: ________________________________________
Special Features:
1.
2.
Skull #3: _______________________________________
Special Features:
1.
2.
Skull # 4: ______________________________________
Special Features:
1.
2.
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Station 6: Hominoid Skull Collection
Examine the skulls of the hominoids shown below. Use the packets at your station to
help you identify some of the skull features. Select four skulls to examine and in the
space next to each skull list at least two defining or prominent characteristics that make
each skull different from all of the rest.
1.
Pan troglodytes (chimpanzee)
1.
2.
22.
2.
Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)
1.
2.
3.
Homo erectus
1.
2.
4.
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
1.
2.
5.
Homo sapiens sapiens
1.
2.
Telltale Art Illustrations from Biology II published by Heinneman Press
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Station 7: Primate Bipedalism: Understanding Standing Up
Bipedalism, walking on two legs, is one of the major biological innovations of the human
lineage. Combined with other characteristics, it makes us unique. Fossil evidence
indicates that changes in anatomy contributed to human bipedalism.
Complete one of the following activities for this station:
 To find out more about bipedalism, click here or read the online article Walking
Upright.
 You may also read the article On Our Own Two Feet provided at your station.
 Create the skeleton of a chimpanzee and a human, at Building Bodies. Notice
the major differences in anatomical structure between the two primates.
Question: Describe two changes in primate anatomy that were necessary for walking
upright.
Station 8: The Evolution of Language
Language can be thought of as the final step in the evolution of modern H. sapiens
sapiens. Language is used to spread ideas. Only humans have developed a
complicated communication system capable of transferring much of what goes on in
one person’s mind to that of another (Prentice Hall, 1997, p 90).
Read the article provided, From Grunts to Grammar and answer the following question.
Question: What changes in anatomy most likely led to the development of language in
modern humans.
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